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Kenyan Authorities Close 2 Neighborhoods Deemed Coronavirus Hotspots

Rael Ombuor

   NAIROBI - Kenya has closed two neighborhoods --one in the capital,
   Nairobi, and the other in the coastal city of Mombasa --after a surge
   in confirmed cases of coronavirus. Kenyan authorities have confirmed
   607 infections and 29 deaths, with dozens of the infections found in
   Nairobi's Eastleigh area and Mombasa's Old Town. Many of the
   neighborhood residents fled as lockdowns were announced.

   From Burhan Iman's hotel window, he saw a journalist setting up his
   equipment for interviews on Thursday morning. Shortly afterward, he
   says a crowd gathered. Everyone wanted to be interviewed. They wanted
   to ask why the government has stopped movement in and out Eastleigh, a
   neighborhood in the east of Nairobi's central district.

   Some of those engaging the journalist, just like Iman, were stranded
   overnight in Eastleigh after the government announced that it was
   sealing off the neighborhood for 15 days after dozens of coronavirus
   cases were recorded in the area.

   "We did not get prior notice, we were ambushed. I wish they could have
   given notice, tell them prior that they were going to put a lockdown in
   place so that people who are not from Eastleigh could get time to get
   out of Eastleigh," he said.

   Iman, who works in Eastleigh but lives in Nairobi's South C estate, was
   shopping for his wedding with his fiancé, when the area was cordoned
   off.

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